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ACL Tear services offered in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and West Orange, NJ
An ACL tear is one of the most common knee injuries, especially among athletes who play sports like soccer. The highly trained orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics treat ACL injuries at each of their office locations: Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Paramus, and Jersey City, New Jersey. If you think you may have a torn ACL, call your nearest office or book an appointment online today.
ACL Tear Q & A
What is an ACL Tear?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four main ligaments that hold the bones of your knee together. The ACL runs diagonally across the middle of your knee and crosses the posterior cruciate ligament to form an X. These four major ligaments control the back-and-forth movements of your knee.
The ACL can become sprained or torn when it stretches beyond its means. Most ACL injuries involve complete or near-complete tears of the ligament. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are graded based on severity:
- Grade 1: Mild damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. It will be slightly stretched but still capable of keeping the knee joint stable.
- Grade 2 Sprains: Where the ligament stretches to the point where it becomes loose, often referred to as a partial tear of the ligament.
- Grade 3 Sprains: More commonly known as a complete tear of the ligament, where the ligament has been torn in half or pulled directly off the bone. This sprain destabilizes the knee.
How Can I Tell If I Tore My ACL?
Symptoms of a torn ACL injury include:
- A popping noise
- Your knee giving out.
- Knee pain
- Swelling
- Instability
- Decreased range of motion
- Difficulty walking on the injured leg
Many ACL tears occur along with other knee injuries, such as a meniscus tear. Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment at Garden State Pain Control prevent further damage to your knee.
What Causes an ACL Tear?
The cruciate ligaments play an important role in stabilizing your knee joint. There are several ways to injure your anterior cruciate ligament, and you may feel sudden pain if you:
- Change direction rapidly.
- Suffer from direct contact or collision, like from a football tackle.
- Land from a jump incorrectly.
- Slow down while running.
- Stop suddenly.
You may be at greater risk of an ACL tear if you play sports that involve rapid changes in direction, such as soccer, basketball, or football. Downhill skiers also frequently experience ACL tears.
How is an ACL Tear Diagnosed and Treated?
First, your Garden State Pain & Orthopedics physician carefully evaluates your knee and asks questions about your symptoms and medical history. They may take an imaging test to confirm a diagnosis, such as an X-ray or MRI. Then, they develop a personalized treatment plan based on the severity of your injury and current level of physical activity. A torn ACL won’t heal without surgery.
However, the Garden State Pain & Orthopedics team offers non-surgical treatments for less-active lifestyles, such as bracing, physical therapy, and regenerative medicine, such as PRP therapy. If you have an ACL tear and want to return to sports, you will probably need surgery. The Garden State Pain Control team performs minimally invasive techniques, such as arthroscopic surgery. Whether your condition requires surgery or not, your Garden State Pain & Orthopedics provider develops a rehabilitation plan to help restore function to your knee. Call or book an appointment online to learn more about an ACL tear treatment.